Electric switch.



CQJ. KLEIN. ELECTRIC swxTcH.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 28, 1911. 1,1 19,966. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLlGATIoN FILED n.a, 1911.

1,1 1 9,966. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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CHALB'IJES'J. KLEIN, O MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO THECUTLEBfHAMMEB l' 4MFG'. C05, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OFWISCONSIN.

FLECTRIC SWITCH.

To all 'w/wm it ma concern .Q Be itknown t at I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, acitizenof the United States, residing' at Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and '.in the actuating member or members may be disposed atany desired angle to the line of movement required of the means directlyoperating the switch mechanism..

A further object of my-inve`ntion is to eliminate the necessity of usinglevers and other complicated means for causing reverse movement'of theoperating members of the switch where such movement is desired as forexample in flush switches.

Various other objects and advantages of my inventionwill be hereinafterset forth.

(In'the application I shall describe my invention as applied to a pushbutton flush switch, but .I have chosenthis type only as a means ofillustrating the principle lof my invention which is capable oi. beingused with various other types of switches and 1n various otherrelations.

Specicationof Letters Patent.

In the accompanying drawings I'have, for

purposes of illustration, shown two forms lr which' my invention mayassume in practice f when applied to a switch of this type. Of course myinvention may be embodied in various other forms. y

` The views in the drawing are as follows Figure 1 shows a top plan viewof a switch. Fig. 2 shows a ,partial central sectional view. Fig. 3shows a sectional view on line ?r 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows a detailview of the switch operating mechanism, portions thereof being shown insection. Fig. 5 shows a partial sectional'v view of a portion of theswitch operatingmechanism. Fig. 6 shows aperspectlve View of one form ofmovable contact. Fig. 7 shows an enlarged partial sectional view of thecam member and the spring. Fig. 8 shows a b0t- PatentedDec. 8, 1914.

Application led April 28, 1911. Serial No. 623,905.

9 shows a top plan view of 'an improved form of switch with thefinishingcover removed. Fig. 10 shows a partial sectional view .throughthe complete switch shown in Fig 9. Fig. llshows an enlarged perspectiveview of a modified form of'movable contact member. Fig. 1,2'shows anenlarged detail View of a portion of the switch shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Let us first consider the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 8 of thedrawings. In Fig. 2 I have illustrated my improved switch mechanisminclosed in a substantially rectangular shaped two-part casing. Thiscasing ma be of any suitable insulating material suc as porcelain, forexample, and may consist 'of an upper portion 1 and a lower portion 2.These portions-1 and 2 are adapted to be clampedtogether and areprovided with intercommunicating recesses in their adjacent faces'adapted to house the switch mechanism. In a preferred form I ybind thetwo parts of the 'casing together by the ,terminal connections 3. Theseterminal connections 3 preferably have `flat upper ends suitably fixedto the topofthe casing near the corners of the same as by contact screws4 and have downwardly-extend-ing portions 5 preferably of a rectangularcrosssection, which pass vertically downward through the two-part casingto the bottom .surface of the lower part-2 of the casing.

See Fig. 8. In apreferred form the lower ends of these contact parts 5are screwthreaded and fitted with taps 6 which serve to clamp the partsof the base securely together to form a unitary structure. As shown inFigs. 2 and 8, I preferably provide an ipsulating strip 7 between thetaps G and he lower surface of the casing. In a preferred form I alsoprovide means consisting of inwardly extending shoulders S on the casingmembers which act to guide and strengthen the contact members 5 as theypassv down throughv the casing. See Fig. 3. By this improvedconstruction I am able to hold the parts of the casing together by theterminal connections vfor the switch and thus do away with unnecessaryparts.

The switch 'mechanism proper is housed between the two parts l and 2 ofthe casing and includes a cam member 9 in the form of tomvplan view ofthe switch casing. Fig. a double frustum, the frustums being;vpositioned base to oase so that the cam 9 has an enlarged center portionfromywhich tapering portions extend to each side toward the longitudinalaxis of the cam member. The cam member is shown in Figs. 2 and`5 and ispreferably constructed of sheet metal and provided with flanges 10 atthe outer ends thereof. The cam 1s provided with a center Isupportingmember 11, semi-cylindrical in cross-section and preferably constructedof sheet metal as shown in Fig. 7. The supporting member 11 has'upwardly extending portions 12 preferabl struck up at the ends thereof,which are la apted to be secured to the cam member 9 as by passingthrough a ertures 13 formed in the ends of the latter.

he member 11 also has an inwardly extending tongue 14 located at aboutits middle portion which is adapted to extend between the adjoininghelices of a springoperating member 15. (Fig. 4). This spring operatingmember 15 extends through the semi-cylindrical member l1 and in apreferred form the inwardly extending projection 14 engages the springmember 15 at about its middle point. The spring member 15 is guided inits movement by a mem ber 16, preferably semi-cylindrical in cross'-section throughout the greater portion of its length and adapted tounite with the semi-cylindrical member 11 to form a cylindrical casingfor the spring member 15. In a preferred form the member 16 is also madeof stamped metal and is provided with upturned ends 17. These upturnedends 17 are of a cylindrical cross-section and arev held in place in thecasin 2 by transverse strips 18.

At points ad3acent and above these 'ends 17, the spring member 15 issuit-` ably fixed to push buttons 19 and 20 as by having its oppositeends inserted in the same as shown in Fig. 4. These push buttons 19 and20 are preferably composed of insulating material and are of the usualconformation at the tops, but are provided with downwardly extendingportions 21 and annular shoulders 22 at about their middle points. Thesedownwardly extending portions 21 move in recesses 23 in the casing andact as guides for the push buttons, while the shoulders 22 abut againstthe edges of perforations 24 formed in an insulating plate 25 extendingacross the open-'face of the casing, to limit the movement of the pushbuttons 19 and 20 and prevent these push buttonsdfrombeing moved too farout of the casing. This insulating plate 25 may be held in engagementwith the upper portion 1 of the casing by centrally located screws 26and may be xfixed to a wall or other surface by screws 27 located nearits ends. An outer finishing or surface plate 28 is preferably fixed tothe insulating plate 25 by screws 28` and is lprovided with perforationsregistering with the perforations 24 in the insulating plate 25. By theuse` of this insulating guiding plate, I am able, t0 locate the partsvery accurately sincethis plate may be very accurately perforatedor'stamped.

In a rpreferred form the cam member 9 is engage b y a resilient memberin the form of a helical spring 29 which has its ends secured togetheras shown in Fig. 7 to form a ring which entirely surrounds the cammember. The cam and spring are so arranged' 'the push button isoperated, which .movement takes place at an accelerated speed andindependent of the operating. means. The cam 9 is moved by the pushbutton into n. predetermined relation with respect to the spring 29 oruntil this spring reaches the point where the two frustums forming thecam meet andvthen the spring moves automatically and independently ofthe cam and of the operating buttons to its other limit of travel. A

In Fig. 6, I have shown one form of contact member adapted to be movedby the helical spring 29. This contact member comprises a body-portion30 which is preferably formed of a single piece of metal bent at 'itscenter so that said body-portion is substantially U-shaped incross-section. One side of the body-portion is preferably formed withextended ends 31 whichsare bent at right angles to the plane of saidside and toward the other side. 'Ihe ends 31 when thus formed providemeans whereby contact engaging portions 32 and 33 may be secured inalinement with each other on the opposite ends of said body-portion 30.Corresponding apertures 34 are formed centrally in the sides of thebody-portion 30 of just Sullicient size to allow the passage of the cam9 therethrough. In assembling the contact member 30, and the cam 9, thespring 29 is disposed in the base between the Sides of said contactmember 30 and the cam member 9 is inserted through the apertures 34 inthe sides thereof, and through the spring.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a section through the complete switch. VVlien itis desires to move the contact member 30 to its opposite limit of travelfrom th'at shown, one of the buttons 19 and 20 is moved downward, thuscausing the spring 15 to slide along within the guiding member 16 andmove the cam member 9 fixed to the spring through ,the supporting member11, through the conhaving been tensioned, will be moved quickly to theopposite end of said cam member 9, thus carrying the contact member fromone limit of its travel to the other with a quick snap action. Asillustrated in Fig. 3, the limits of its travel may be the terminalcontacts 5. The contact member 30 moves in a. plane at right angles tothe contact surfaces of these terminal members 5, so that the ends 32and 33 of the member 30 will engage the same with a wiping or slidingaction and with a minimum of sparking. It is, of course, to beunderstood however, that instead of the connection shown in Fig. 3, theswitch mechanism may be used to make or break a circuit in any desiredmanner, and that it may be used for controlling a single -iii'rcuit, apair of separate circuits or as a--three way switch.

In Figs. 9 to 12, I have shown a modified form of the switch. In thismodified construction I preferably form the supportlng casing of onecup-shaped piece of insulating material 35. As in the case ot theprevious construction, I employ an insulatlng guiding plate 36 suitablyfixed to the upper surface of the casing and an outer face plate 37suitably fixed to the guiding plate 36. Both of these plates'areprovided with snitable perforations for the push buttons 38 and 39. Inthis construction I provide a supporting and guiding rod 40 for each endof the spring operating member 41. In a preferredl form the upper endsof these guiding rods 40 are slotted as ,shown at 42 in Fig. 12 and areadapted to engage flanges 43 formed in longitudinally disposed recesses44 in the insulating plate 36 and be..

held by these flanges in the said recesses. The push buttons 38 and 39in this construction are preferably provided with lateral extensions 45at their lower ends preferably provided with apertures 46 to fit overthe guiding rods 40 and slide upon the same. The opposite ends of thespring operating member 41 are preferably secured to these extensions 45so that .when the but` tons are depressed, the extensions 45 will bemoved downward to cause a bodily movement of the spring member 41,whereby the cam will be moved and the switch mechanism operated. In thisconstruction the cam member consists of an insulating sleeve 47 ot'substantially the same conformation as the sleeve 1l. This sleeve 47 isfixed to the spring member 41 so as to move with the same by an innersleeve 48 fitted between the spring member and the cam member 47 andpreferably of a construction permitting it to engage between the helicesof the spring member 41. The action of this'cam' memoer is the same asthat of the cam member 9 p re vio usly described.

In Fig. 11 I have shown a modified form of movable contact member. Thiscontact member is formed of two plates 49 and 50 which are spaced apartand have inwardly extending portions 51 which are fastened together inany desired manner as by rivets 52. These 4plates may be insulated fromone another if desired. Each of these plates 49 and 50 has its oppositeends bent outwardly as shown in Fig. 11 to form parallel Contactsurfaces 53 on the op osite ends of the same. As in the case of t eprevious construction, this contact member is pro- 1;ided with oppositeperforations 54. Just as previously described, this contact member isadapted to inclose a helical spring 55r and move upon the cam member 47when the push buttons are operaed. In this instance, however, instead oengaging terminal contacts of the conformation of the contacts 5illustrated in Fig. 3, the movable contact member engages spring clipcontacts 56 Which are adapted to receive the ends of the contactsurfaces 53 and are preferably formed of sin le pieces of materialsuitably fixed to bin ing screws 57, as illustrated in Fig. 9.

W'hile I have shown and described in this application two specific formswhich my .invent-ion may assume in practice, my invention itself is inno wise limited to these specific forms, but may assume other forms, andbe adapted to switches of various other types, all of which fall Withinthe scope of my present improvement.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In anelectric switch, the combination with a longitudinally movable contactactuating member, of an operating member therefor movable longitudinallyand at an angle thereto, longitudinally movable means operativelyconnecting said members, anda guide for said connecting meansintermediate said members.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with a longitudinally movablecontact actuating member, of an operating member therefor movablelongitudinally and at an angle thereto, a curvilinear guide between saidmembers, and means movable longitudmally of said guide for operativelyconnecting said members. u

3. In an electric switch, the combination with a longitudinally movablecontact actuating member, of an operating member therefor .y movable'longitudinally and at right angles thereto, a fixedV guide betweei saidmembers, and means operatively connecting saidl members and movablelongiltudi'nally in a single path controlled by said guide.

4. In an electric switch, the combination, with a longitudinally movablecontact actuating device, of an operating member therefor movable lonitudinally at right `angles thereto and a exible thrust member beweensaid device and said operating memer.

5. In `an electric switch, the combination, with a longitudinallymovable contact actunti'ng member,` of an operating member thereformovable longitudinally at right angles thereto and a thrust connectionbetween said members comprising a helical spring.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, a movable contact actuatingmember, an operating member therefor movable in fa direction at an anglethereto, a curved guide member arranged between said two firstmentionedmembers, and a single flexible member in said guide to transmit movementof said operating member to' said contact actuating member.

7. In an electric switch, the combination with a contact actuatingmember, of a longitudinally movable member having a flexible portion fortransmitting the thrust thereof to said Contact actuating member and asubstantially right angle guide for said flexible thrust portion betweensaid members.

8. In an electric switch, the combination .with a longitudinally movableo erated member, of anoperating member therefor m'ovable longitudinallyat right angles thereto, a helical sprin connecting said members and acurved guide for said helical spring between said members.

9. In a flush switch, the combination with a longitudinally movableoperated member, of a pair of push buttons therefor, movable at rightangles thereto and flexible thrust connections between said push buttonsand said operated member.

10. In a flush switch, the combination with a longitudinally movableoperated member, of a pair of push buttons for operating the same, saidpush buttons being movable at right angles to said operated member and aflexible member provided with a substantially right angle guide, be-

tween each of said push buttons and said operated member.

11. In a flush switch, the combination with an operated member of alongitudinally movable flexible member connected thereto and having itsextremities disposed at right angles to its intermediate portion andpush buttons connected to the extremities of said flexible member.

12. In -a flush switch, the combination with a longitudinally movableoperated member, a helical spring cor nected thereto, guides fordirecting the extremities of said spring at right. angles-to the line of`movement of said memberand push buttons cooperating with 'theextremities of said springs to thrust said operated member in oppositedirections.

13. In an electric switch, in combination, a. reciprocable cam member, acontact member movable over said cam member, resilient means acted on bysaid cam member. and acting on said contact member for moving the latterwith a snap action, push buttons movable at right angles to said cammember to reciprocate the same, and a single flexible member operativelyconnecting said pushbuttons and said cam member.

1l. In a flush switch, the combination with a longitudinally movabledouble frustum cam member, of a spring encircling the same andcooperating therewith to impart a snap action to the switch contacts, apair of push buttons movable at right angles to said cam member and aflexible member connecting cach of said push buttons to said cam memberand to the other push button.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN.

Vitnesses C. K. RocKwELL, F. H. HUBBARn.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

